THE FIRST BOOK OF

MOSES,
called
G E N E S I S

Genesis 45

1Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren; comforteth them in ascribing all that had past to God's providence; sendeth for his father by them; 14and cordially embraceth them. 16Pharaoh confirmeth Joseph's invitation. 21Joseph furnisheth his brethren for their journey, and exhorteth them to harmony. 25Jacob at first hardly believeth, but is at length revived with the news.


1THEN Joseph could 1not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, 2Cause every man to go out 3from me. And there stood 4no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

1 Namely, from weeping, as he had done previously, Gen. 43:31.

2 This he does to preserve his own and his brethren’s honor and credit with the Egyptians, lest they would hear from him that he was sold, and from his brethren that they sold him.

3 Hebr. from with, or, beside me, that is, out of my presence.

4 But only his brethren.

2And 5he wept aloud: and the 6Egyptians and the 7house of Pharaoh heard.

5 Hebr. he gave.

6 Those, who had just left the room, and were not far away from the place.

7 That is, his courtiers, who presently had the news imparted to them, as verse 16.

3And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren 8could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

8 By reason of the consciousness of their trespass against Joseph, and his present power and authority, to be avenged upon them, if he pleased.

4And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, Iaam Joseph your brother, whomb ye sold 9into Egypt.

a Acts 7:13.

b Gen. 37:28; Psalm 105:17; Acts 7:9.

9 See Gen. 37:28.

5Now therefore bec not grieved, 10nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for 11God did send me before you to preserve 12life.

c Gen. 50:19, 20, 21.

10 Or, sadness, or, spitefulness, or any other evil passion. Compare Gen. 31:35. Or, let it not grieve or displease you. Or, do not show yourselves disaffected in your carriage and behavior.

11 By His wise, good, and almighty providence, turning your evil intent to a good end; as He did likewise in after-times, with the proceedings and practices of Saul, 1 Sam. 19:9; of Absalom, 2 Sam. 12:12; of Shimei, 2 Sam. 16:10; of Ahithophel, 2 Sam. 17:14; of the enemies of Job, Job 1:21; of the Jews, Acts 2:23, etc.; see 2 Sam. 12 on verse 12.

12 Namely, of your own. Other, for livelihood, as Judges 6:4; 17:10.

6For these two years hath the famine been 13in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earingd nor harvest.

13 That is, throughout the entire land.

d ploughing

7And God sent me 14before you 15to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives 16by a great deliverance.

14 Compare Gen. 32 on verse 3.

15 That is, that you may be preserved in this general calamity, and your posterity may remain after you. Other, that there might remain somewhat, whereby to sustain yourselves.

16 Other, to, or, for a great deliverance, or escaping, which is called great, in regard of the extraordinary and wonderful work of Divine providence, so clearly shown, and also by reason of the great mercy exhibited hereby to the Israelites that would be preserved in great number.

8So now it 17was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a 18father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

17 That is, it was not your intent, nor purpose, to make me a governor of Egypt; but God has done it, directing your work to your own good.

18 That is, his principal counselor of state, who would steer and guide his affairs with a fatherly care, and whom he would regard as a father.

9Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, 19tarry not:

19 Hebr. stand not, or, do not abide standing.

10And thou shalt dwell in the land of 20Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

20 A country situated in Egypt near the land of Canaan, very fruitful, and abounding with pastures, and therefore very commodious for those who dealt in cattle.

11And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to 21poverty.

21 That is, perish through poverty.

12And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is 22my mouth that speaketh unto you.

22 That is, that I speak unto you now myself, not by an interpreter in a strange tongue, but by my own tongue in your own language.

13And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bringe down my father hither.

e Acts 7:14.

14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s 23neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

23 Hebr. necks. Compare Gen. 33:4.

15Moreover 24he kissed all his brethren, and wept 25upon them: and 26after that his brethren talked with him.

24 See Gen. 29:11; 31:28.

25 That is, while he lay on their necks and kissed them.

26 Seeing now Joseph’s upright and hearty affection, they cheer up, and begin to speak somewhat more freely and familiarly with him.

16¶And the 27fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: 28and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

27 Hebr. voice. Thus the same word is taken likewise, Jer. 10:22; Acts 2:6, etc.

28 That is, they were well pleased with it.

17And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

18And take your father and your 29households, and come unto me: and I will give you 30the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat 31the fat of the land.

29 Hebr. houses, as verse 11.

30 Hebr. the good, that is, the best and most fruitful part of it.

31 That is, the most pleasant and most excellent things which God produces out of and upon the earth for the sustenance and comfort of man’s life. Compare Num. 18:12, 29, 30; Deut. 32:14; Psalm 147:14.

1932Now thou art commanded, 33this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

32 Namely, thou Joseph, that is, in my name thou art provided with sufficient authority.

33 This is again said in the plural number, and has reference to Joseph’s brethren.

20Also 34regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.

34 Let it not be grievous to you, to leave somewhat of your household stuff and implements behind; or, that it may spoil by the way; or, that ye may not be able to sell it, in this time of dearth, according to its worth and value.

21And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the 35commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.

35 Hebr. mouth.

22To all of them he gave each man 36changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of 37silver, and five changes of raiment.

36 Hebr. change, or, exchange of garments, that is, such as were not for daily and ordinary use; such as great lords and princes were wont to give and present to them, whom they meant to honor or reward, Judges 14:12, 19; 2 Kings 5:5.

37 See Gen. 20 on verse 16.

23And to his father he sent 38after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and 39meat for his father by the way.

38 Hebr. as this, that is, likewise, or, in like manner, or, thus, that is, as follows.

39 Other, dessert.

24So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, 40See that ye fall not out by the way.

40 Namely, by falling out and quarreling one with another about your former trespass against me.

25¶And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

26And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart 41fainted, for he believed them not.

41 Namely, by the unexpected joy and great wonderment, seeing he had not heard of him for twenty-two or twenty-three years together.

27And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, 42the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

42 He was so revived by this extraordinary joy about this very exceptional and unexpected matter, that he received new strength in spirit and in body.

28And Israel said, 43It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

43 Or, it is much, or, a great matter.